An automated analyzer includes a container installation portion in which a container, such as a reagent container, has a protrusion and an openable and closable lid. A lid opening and closing mechanism opens and closes the lid and includes an arm portion having an arm and a horizontal driving portion which moves the arm in a first horizontal direction. The arm includes a protrusion contacting portion that includes a first surface having an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees when the horizontal surface is set as 0 degrees. The lid opening and closing mechanism portion opens the lid by moving the arm in the first horizontal direction, contacting the lid protrusion on the first surface of the protrusion contacting portion, and then moving the lid protrusion along a shape of the first surface in a vertical direction, until the lid is opened.

Provided are methods for the automated loading and/or automatic processing of one or more samples in an automated sample processing device. Also provided are automated sample loading systems and devices that include automated sample loading systems or devices that are utilized in such systems.

A method of producing a sample collection apparatus, including steps of: attaching a holding member to a support of a nozzle unit such that, in slits provided with N edges (N≥3), a collection range w of a sample tube is included within a range from a lower-limit position at a distance w/2 from a 1st edge toward an initial-position, to an upper-limit position at a distance w/2 from an Nth edge away from the initial position; loading the sample tube on the holding member; counting the number of pulses with which a pulse motor is driven to move a nozzle to the center of the collection range; identifying the signal corresponding to the last edge recognized by a photo-interrupter before the nozzle reaches the center of the collection range; and storing the number of pulses and the signal corresponding to the last edge in a storage device.

A sample analyzer, comprising a sample storage region, a sample-drawing channel, and a transport mechanism; the sample storage region being provided with a plurality of storage channels; the sample-drawing channel is provided with a sample-drawing position; the transport mechanism comprises an engagement slot, an actuation mechanism and a first moving mechanism; the engagement slot and the actuation mechanism are fixed on the first moving mechanism, the actuation mechanism comprises an actuator and a second moving mechanism, the actuator is drivable by at least one of the first moving mechanism and the second moving mechanism to realize the movement of the sample holder between the storage channels and the engagement slot; during sample drawing, the first moving mechanism drives the engagement slot to move to the sample-drawing channel, the actuation mechanism enables samples to pass through the sample-drawing position and to make a stop for sample drawing.

A pipette-tip connecting device has a base, a first positioning mechanism, a second positioning mechanism, a connecting seat, a pipette-fixing seat, and a tilt actuator. The first positioning mechanism extends along a first direction. The second positioning mechanism is linked to the first slider and extending upward and downward along a second direction. The connecting seat is mounted on the second slider such that positions of the connecting seat along the first direction and the second direction are controlled by the first positioning mechanism and the second positioning mechanism respectively. The pipette-fixing seat is mounted on the connecting seat and is pivotal relative to the connecting seat. The pipette-fixing seat has a pipette-tip connector which moves in the first direction and the second direction when the pipette-fixing seat pivots. The tilt actuator controls a relative angle between the pipette-fixing seat and the connecting seat.

This sample injection device is provided with a plunger drive unit for driving a plunger by a pulse motor, an encoder for detecting an operating position of the pulse motor, and a control unit for adjusting a reference position of the tip end of the plunger with respect to the syringe based on the operating position detected by the encoder when the tip end of the plunger is brought into contact with the end portion in the syringe on the tip end side.

Provided is an automatic analyzer that prevents different types of reagents from being misplaced and prevents reagents from being removed at wrong timing with less space and fewer components. A stopper 202 is installed at a position where the stopper 202 is in contact with an insertion direction front surface 302 of a reagent container 301A and 301B and prevents the reagent container 301A and 301B from being set before the reagent container 301A and 301B is joined to a piercing needle 205 and where the stopper 202 interferes with a holding surface of the reagent container 301A and 301B and prevents the reagent container 301A and 301B from moving in a slot 201 even if the reagent container 301A and 301B is attempted to be removed in a state where the reagent container 301A and 301B is joined to the piercing needle 205.

An apparatus for limiting pipette motion, the apparatus comprising: (1) a stand for controlling spatial positions; (2) a mechanism for temporally coupling the pipette with the stand; the orientation or the movement of the pipette being restricted by the stand as predetermined for (a) limiting the insertion depth of the pipette tips into sample containers, (b) restricting unwanted movements or rotations of the pipette, or (c) maintaining the desired alignments of the pipette tips with the sample containers. Methods of limiting pipette motion or rotation are also provided.

A sample analyzer, comprising a sample storage region, a sample-drawing channel, and a transport mechanism; the sample storage region being provided with a plurality of storage channels; the sample-drawing channel is provided with a sample-drawing position; the transport mechanism comprises an engagement slot, an actuation mechanism and a first moving mechanism; the engagement slot and the actuation mechanism are fixed on the first moving mechanism, the actuation mechanism comprises an actuator and a second moving mechanism, the actuator is drivable by at least one of the first moving mechanism and the second moving mechanism to realize the movement of the sample holder between the storage channels and the engagement slot; during sample drawing, the first moving mechanism drives the engagement slot to move to the sample-drawing channel, the actuation mechanism enables samples to pass through the sample-drawing position and to make a stop for sample drawing.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of automated analysis, and provides a sample analysis system and a control method for the same and a sample analysis method. The sample analysis system includes: a control device; a rail device for carrying cuvettes under control of the control device; at least one independent sample distribution node arranged on the rail device for distributing samples to the cuvettes, the independent sample distribution node being used for sample aspiration, transfer, and discharge; and at least two independent reagent distribution and measurement nodes arranged on the rail device for distributing test reagents to the cuvettes and measuring the mixture liquid in the cuvettes, the independent reagent distribution and measurement nodes being used for reagent aspiration, transfer, and discharge and reagent-sample mixture liquid measurement.